It seems EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is dreaming of a jet plane. The EU luminary, who came under fire for failing to attend key meetings recently, has suggested that this is exactly what she needs if she is to raise her profile and keep all her essential foreign engagements.

DNA tests have today proved that a corpse found in a Nicosia cemetery is that of Cyprus’s former leader Tassos Papadopoulos, whose body was snatched three months ago by tomb raiders in a bizarre crime that still has no apparent motive.

Prime Minister Robert Fico has caused an outcry with his proposals to take Roma children from their families and send them to special boarding schools, which he claims is the only way to integrate the next generation of Roma into the rest of Slovakian society.

Iceland's government is scrambling round for a new plan after voters said a resounding "no" to a tough scheme for repaying debts to the UK and the Netherlands this weekend. If it cannot find a solution, the economically battered nation risks being cut adrift by the EU and the IMF.

To start our series on gender equality, we head to Eastern Europe, where International Women's Day is grappling with an identity crisis. The 8 March holiday fell from favour in the Czech Republic because of its Communist overtones, but now women's groups are reclaiming it as their own.

A ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that Poland must give a gay couple the same legal rights as an unwed straight couple has enraged conservatives in Poland, who claim this paves the way for introducing same-sex marriage in the strongly Catholic country.

An argument is brewing in the Czech Republic over old Communist news bulletins that are being re-run before the daily news. A minister has complained about the Soviet-era broadcasts, but the television station maintains that he is just looking for publicity before the May elections.

Former president of the Muslim-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ejup Ganić is at the centre of a political tug-of-war. The Serbs issued his international arrest warrant, British police made the arrest, and now the Bosnians want the suspect.

In many nations, failure at international sporting events is followed by public calls for the coach or manager to get the sack. But in Russia, the president is demanding that senior sports officials' heads roll, following a disappointing performance at the Winter Olympics.

Catherine Ashton is in hot water again this week over a perceived British bias in her newly proposed diplomatic service. Just over 100 days in office and the honeymoon period is definitely over for the new EU foreign policy chief. In fact, some would argue that it never really began.

The trial of Radovan Karadžić re-opened today as the former Bosnian Serb leader took to the stand. He said the Bosnian war was “just and holy” and blamed the war on Bosnian Muslims, claiming he had “evidence and proof.” His opening statement will continue into tomorrow.

The Dutch decide to pull their troops out of Afghanistan, leaving the future of its Uruzgan Province in doubt. Also in doubt is internet freedom, as three Google executives in Italy are held responsible for a controversial video upload. Meanwhile in France, halal food is causing a stir.

The Kremlin has slammed the US administration for allegedly courting Romania and Bulgaria as locations for a new anti-missile shield. Moscow has questioned the aim of what it calls a “unilateral action,” and is unhappy it learnt of the plans through the media instead of from Washington.

Russian police have backtracked on their decision not to investigate the daughter of a senior Siberian official, who appears to have been caught on video running over two pedestrians, after an online outcry accused them of negligence and corruption.

Viewed by outsiders as blond-haired, sauna-going types with a shared Viking history, the Scandinavian nations like to make fun of each other. The strong stereotypes in these jokes reveal distinct national characteristics and hint at how the past still shapes relations between these countries.

The appointment of a former Lithuanian foreign minister as the EU’s special envoy in Afghanistan has raised eyebrows in Brussels. The announcement comes only months after he was forced to resign from his previous post after allegedly covering up a secret CIA interrogation centre.

This year’s UK general election runs the risk of being declared unlawful if the country’s 83,000 strong prison population is not given the right to vote. But despite the insistence of the European Court of Human Rights the British government appears reluctant to act.

Seven senior Turkish military officers have been charged with plotting a 2003 coup against the Islamist-leaning government in Ankara. The men were among 49 suspects detained earlier this week in an unprecedented series of police raids.

Left-wing MEPs have blocked the European Parliament from passing a motion condemning Belarus for the increasing harassment of its Polish minority.

A heated dispute has erupted in Russia over plans to adorn Moscow’s streets with portraits of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin during Victory Day celebrations on 9 May.

In 2007, the constitution of Montenegro was changed to allow Montenegrin to become the official language of the tiny Balkan state. Proponents call the language “unique,” while critics say it is no more than a Serbian dialect. Either way, it is now a highly political subject.

A new detailed study has revealed major discrepancies in wealth between EU regions. But the striking East-West divide that is making the headlines hides other, more complex disparities that may well have a greater impact on countries' access to EU funding in the future.

The Czech Supreme Court has banned a vocal far-right party on the grounds of extremism. The ruling makes the Czech Workers' Party, notorious for its strong anti-Roma stance, the first political party to be banned in the country since the fall of communism in 1989.

Although Hungarian and Roma speakers gained greater legal rights in Romania since the fall of communism, many are pushing for greater recognition, causing anger in sections of the Romanian-speaking community.

A bizarre media saga is developing over alleged jewel robbery involving Kristina Chernovetska, the daughter of Kiev’s wealthy mayor, which is raising some awkward questions for her father back in Ukraine.

It first sounded like something straight from a James Bond movie but has turned into a case better suited to Sherlock Holmes. The murder of a Hamas official in Dubai now involves the Irish, British, German and French governments, the Israeli secret service, and several very puzzled suspects.

Alongside its economy, Iceland's international reputation has also taken a battering recently, but a draft law filed today aims to turn things round, reinventing the country as a haven for journalism and freedom of information.

Russian authorities say that four civilians killed during operations in the North Caucasus were caught in the crossfire. But according to a human rights group, they were abducted, tortured and killed. The rights activists claim to have photos and witnesses. The Kremlin has yet to comment.

The Libyans are not happy, the Swiss are outraged, the Germans are disappointed and the Italians are furious. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s decision to stop issuing entry visas to 25 European nations is just the latest move in a diplomatic dispute that has been escalating since 2008.

Viktor Yanukovych was officially declared the winner of the Ukrainian presidential elections on Sunday, but his bitter rival Yuliya Tymoshenko is still refusing to back down. Instead she vowed to dispute the results in court, claiming widespread election fraud.

Two thousand demonstrators took to the streets to protest the Russian government’s U-turn decision to re-open a paper mill. The controversial plant was closed in 2008 after the government ordered that it install a drainage system to divert pollution from the world's largest freshwater lake.

Swiss banking has long been synonymous with secrecy and offshore funds. But now international pressure is finally taking its toll on the Swiss banking tradition and forcing the once private banks to become more transparent.

Panicked EU leaders discussed the struggling economy, while In Greece workers took to the streets. In the Netherlands Dutch politicians have been fighting for fewer restrictions on euthanasia and in Spain football fans may soon be able to own a share in their favourite player.

Finland’s foreign minister has said the EU is ready to put down “very strong sanctions” against Iran if the UN Security Council fails to do so first. And the tough talking Finn has said this could happen in a matter of “days or weeks.”

The editor of a Kurdish newspaper in Turkey has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after publishing material deemed sympathetic to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Turkey’s tough sentencing is doing little to enhance its image within the EU.

Greece ground to halt today as thousands took the street in a bid to force the authorities to backtrack on tough belt-tightening measures intended to drag the country out of debt. Meanwhile the rest of the Eurozone is watching nervously, hoping the Greek government will stick to its guns.

Poland and Belarus are at loggerheads after the Polish president claimed Belarus was unjustly repressing his compatriots. And now Poland has recalled its ambassador for consultation.

After delays, arguments, alleged mafia links and a couple of referenda, today the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new European Commission.

As Ukraine waits with baited breath for Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko to speak following her presidential election defeat, close aides have revealed that she plans to take the results all the way to the courts.

France has agreed to sell Russia a hi-tech warship and says it is considering a request to buy three more. The deal - the first of its kind between a NATO country and Russia - has upset Moscow's neighbours, who fear that a better-equipped Russian army will mean less security for them.

Germany's foreign minister pushed the question of a EU army back into the spotlight this weekend, by publicly backing the idea of a European defence force. The creation of such an army is allowed under the Lisbon Treaty, but many EU states are still unsure that this is the right way forward.

Viktor Yanukovych looks set to win a victory in Ukraine’s presidential race, marking an astonishing turnaround for the man who had power snatched from his grasp by the 2004 Orange Revolution.

The draw for 2012 European Football Championship passed off smoothly at the weekend, giving a boost to the co-hosts Poland and Ukraine, both of which had been grappling with criticism that their preparations for the event were not coming up to scratch.

The fight to clear Concorde's name, the UK's Iraq Inquiry heats up, Greece’s economic purse strings are pulled even tighter and “The King” is back, as Eric Cantona takes to the stage.

Swedish governments covered up the dumping of Russian radioactive and chemical waste in the Baltic Sea in the late 80s and early 90s, a TV documentary has claimed.

A landmark deal has been reached in Northern Ireland between the two main political parties. The agreement, which includes new plans on overseeing loyalist parades, paves the way for the appointment of the first ever justice minister by 12 April.

Spain reacted angrily today to criticism of its economy, accusing the EU's economy commissioner of wrongly tarring it with the same brush as debt-ridden Greece. As Spanish stocks slumped today, it is now blaming Brussels for shaking investors' confidence.

In a move hailed as a breakthrough in Moscow and Warsaw's turbulent relations, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has personally invited his Polish counterpart to join him at the first official Russian memorial ceremony to mark the notorious Katyn massacre of 1940.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in Cyprus to help boost reunification talks on the divided island of Cyprus. The push comes as elections loom in the Turkish part of the island, the results of which could seriously derail hopes of a deal.

The mud-slinging in Ukraine has stepped up a gear as the campaign for the final round of the presidential elections enters its last week.

Thousands of protestors took the streets in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad over the weekend in a rare protest that ended in calls for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's resignation.

A blogger and one-time advisor to the finance minister has built a political party which, in just 12 months, has become the third most popular in Slovakia.

EU leaders aren’t feeling the transatlantic love after Washington announced that President Obama would not be attending the US-EU Summit this year.

Serbia is calling on the African Union for support in its campaign of non-recognition for Kosovo.

Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has been acquitted of conspiring to sabotage Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidential bid. And now exonerated, he may have his eyes on his arch nemesis’ job.

As the crackdown by Tehran continues, a growing number of Iranians are fleeing the country. Often they head first to neighbouring Turkey, one of the few places Iranians can travel to freely. Yet those who have crossed the border say Turkey is not quite the safe haven it first appears.

The European Court of Human Rights was pulled back from the brink of collapse yesterday as a Russian change of heart put it back on track. The court has struggled under the pressure of an increasing backlog of cases, which has threatened its very existence.

As memorial ceremonies were held around the world today to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, dignitaries and camp survivors gathered at Auschwitz to mark the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp.

Ten years ago the European Union vowed to take major steps towards wiping out poverty by 2010, yet almost 17% of the population are still in acute need. As the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion begins, many are asking, does the EU have the right approach?

A cross-party commission of French MPs today recommended a partial ban on the wearing of the Islamic face veil, which it says will send a clear message that the garment is "unacceptable" in France's secular society.

A senior Polish bishop is reported to have said that the Holocaust was a “Jewish invention” and a propaganda tool to justify Israeli aggression.

Agreement on a new nuclear reduction treaty between the US and Russia is close, according to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Critical meetings are taking place in Belfast and London today over the devolution crisis engulfing the Northern Ireland assembly.

What do you get when you cross the rock band The Velvet Underground with Czechoslovakia’s 1989 Velvet Revolution? The Plastic People of the Universe, of course.

Lithuania’s foreign minister Vygaudas Usackas has resigned following an investigation into whether his country hosted secret CIA prisons between 2002 and 2006. The country’s president led calls for the resignation.

Up to 50 Poles were detained by police in Belarus yesterday in the on going spat between the Union of Poles and President Alexander Lukashenko.

Slovakia is the most recent EU country to offer its services in speeding up the closure of Guantanamo Bay. They will become the seventh EU nation to accept former Gitmo detainees with their acceptance of three inmates.

Divisive Dutch politician Geert Wilders had reason to leave the first day of his pre-trial hearing with a grin today after several hundred supporters turned up to support the peroxide-haired parliamentarian.

The outgoing president of Croatia has caused a stink by claiming he would “send in the army” if the Serb minority tries to break away from neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina - a threat that has upset many in the region where the shadow of the Balkan Wars still looms large.

Slovakia’s European commissioner-designate emerged relatively unscathed from a European Parliament Q&A session today, even after facing questions about his alleged racist comments towards Roma gypsies.

Bulgaria was left with egg on its face after withdrawing its European commission nominee today. After earlier attempts to ignore MEP overtures, Bulgaria succumbed to European pressure and replaced their candidate - Rumiana Jeleva.

Agriculture is a major issue in the European Union and accounts for a large slice of EU spending. With agricultural policy reform a subject that gets a lot of people, not just farmers, hot under the collar we take a quick overview of just what's at stake:

As predicted, Ukrainian voters gave incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko the boot in yesterday's presidential election. Pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovych and former Orange Revolution leader Yuliya Tymoshenko will now battle it out in what is expected to be a very close second round.

This week saw the Bulgarian EU Commissioner- Designate accused of being a gangster-bride, the run-up to Ukraine’s much anticipated presidential election, and the always-entertaining Silvio Berlusconi back in court.

A late run by a little-known candidate could scupper chances of Orange revolution heroine Yulia Tymoshenko making it through to the second round of Ukraine’s presidential elections.

The leader of France's left-wing opposition party has re-ignited debate in the country about whether to give immigrants the vote.

George W. Bush considered using airpower to end the 2008 Russian-Georgian war, claims a new book out this week.

Former US Secretary of State Madeline Albright, now charged with updating NATO's mission statement, was in Prague yesterday for a conference that tackled the tricky issue of just what the military alliance's priorities should now be in the post-Soviet 21st century.

The war crimes trial of Serb nationalist Vojislav Seselj resumed yesterday at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia after a year's delay.

A Dutch inquiry today into the Iraq war reported that there was no mandate under international law for the Dutch government’s decision to give political support to the American-led invasion in 2003.

In today's globalised world, students often turn to international university rankings when picking a place to study. But do the current systems, dominated by US universities, do the job? Not according to the EU, which is currently working on an alternative.

Over the next ten days MEPs have the opportunity to grill the men and women nominated to become the new EU commissioners. First up to fight for her job today was Catherine Ashton, nominated for the new post of EU's foreign policy supremo.

Law professor and classical composer Ivo Josipovic has stormed the Croatian presidential election for the left-wing Social Democratic party with his pledges to crackdown on corruption and lead the former Yugoslav republic into the European Union.

International leaders have expressed concern over arrests made in Moscow, particularly that of prominent human rights activist, 82 year-old Lyudmila Alexeyeva.

French MPs will this month be presented with a proposal aimed at banning the wearing of the burka and niqab, following a long running debate within French parliament and society.

Demonstrators congregated outside the Visoki Decani monastery in Kosovo to protest the President of Serbia’s special Orthodox Christmas visit on 7 January.

Bulgaria has moved to diffuse anger after one of its ministers created an uproar by suggesting that it intended to block neighbouring Turkey's path to EU membership unless Ankara coughed up billions of euros in compensation for events that took place nearly a century ago.

A Bulgarian journalist known for his investigations into organized crime rings was shot dead in Sofia on Tuesday.

As the protests that have buffeted Iran since last year's disputed elections continue, Tehran has banned its citizens from making contact with 60 foreign organisations, which it accuses of trying to incite unrest to topple the government.

Ukrainian prime minister and presidential candidate Yuliya Tymoshenko has upped the stakes ahead of next week's elections by making controversial statements about corruption that implicate her main rivals.

The row over refunds for foreign governments who lost out in the collapse of Iceland's banking system has reignited as the Icelandic president today bowed to popular pressure and asked for a referendum on the hotly contested issue of compensation.

Serbia has filed a lawsuit against Croatia at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of genocide during the Balkans wars of the 1990s, after Zagreb refused to drop a similar suit against Belgrade.

Bad blood between Bulgaria and Turkey is threatening to create a further obstacle to Turkey's EU membership hopes. A Bulgarian minister is now saying that Ankara must pay up $20 billion in compensation before Sofia will agree to talks on its neighbour's accession.

The European Union faces a brave new era as the Lisbon Treaty comes into force on 1 January. But how will Spain, the first member state to hold the rotating presidency, under the new system tackle these new challenges?

Valentin, the adopted son of former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, is pushing for a ban on a play about the trial and execution of his parents in order to protect their good names.

Most of the Communist regimes in Europe came to an end in 1989. And all throughout 2009 the continent was celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain. The biggest event was held in Berlin - home to probably the most iconic symbols of Communism in Europe: the Berlin Wall.

One of the most popular Christmas landmarks in the UK's capital is the large tree that adorns Trafalgar Square every year. The tree arrives annually from Norway as a gift in honour of the wartime bond between the two countries.

The infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign, whose words mean "work makes you free", from above the gates at the entrance to the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in southern Poland was stolen last night.

World leaders took centre stage at the Copenhagen climate talks today, but no notable progress was made in talks that seem to be faltering fast as the summit enters its final 24 hours.

Newly re-elected Romanian President Traian Basescu has chosen his new prime minister. It is none other than Emil Boc, the man who headed the previous government which collapsed after a no-confidence vote in parliament in October.

Hopes of a viable climate deal in Copenhagen are rapidly cooling as major player China moves to join the G77 countries in objecting to Denmark’s handling of the negotiating process. Our correspondent Jan Simmen is on the spot following the latest developments as they unfold:

Developing countries were in open revolt against developed countries at the Copenhagen summit today, again saying they're being sidelined. Meanwhile, police have been busy breaking up a demonstration of people from all over the world who want to make their voices heard at the summit.

Over 200 Chechens and Georgians have been stopped trying to cross from Poland into Germany by train, on their way to Strasbourg to protest against conditions in Poland’s refugee centres and the years they say it takes to be granted refugee status.

Belarusian opposition media say a leaked document shows President Alexander Lukashenko has given the government in Minsk six months to come up with an internet registration scheme, a move critics fear will lead to an "oppressive" online crackdown.

Simmering anger at the slow progress of climate change talks, plus the raft of restrictions and long delays facing delegates attempting to access the Copenhagen Summit boiled over today, as hundreds of NGO delegates were refused entry and clashes broke out between activists and the police.

Romania’s Constitutional Court has rejected opposition claims of vote rigging and confirmed a recount of annulled ballot papers showing that incumbent head of state Traian Basescu did win the closely-fought race in the recent presidential elections.

The imminent meeting of world leaders in Copenhagen has caused a boom in requests for accreditation for the summit. On Monday, the queue was huge. Today, Tuesday, our correspondent Florin Orban finds out things are going from bad to worse…